The ground trembled in fear as he bound through the forest at inhuman speed, the wind whipping ferociously at him, air resistance not strong enough nor near as capable enough to slow him down.

It was only when he reached the river did he come to a stop, crouching low on the ground. Hunched low on his back limbs with his head bowed down towards the ground, he squeezed his eyes shut, a lone tear slipping down the hardened plane of his cheek and the angular cut of his jaw, dripping off the edge and soaring down onto the ground; lost.

Just like him.

His body convulsed painfully as his limbs twitched, his nose transforming into a large, strong snout, releasing a yelp as his bones snapped. His teeth, growing both longer and sharper, glinting menacingly in the faint rays of the moon as he ground them together. The beast finally stood up, his head tilted back as he stared at the ball of illuminating light in the sky.

He thought of all that he had lost, and everything that he had missed out on. He often dreamt of the life that he could have had, of the way that things would have been different. But it wasn't worth it, thinking about what could have been was not worth all the anguish and harsh wave of emotions such wishful thinking brought upon him.

This was the only time that he ever let himself feel, live, breathe. This was the one moment of peace and tranquillity that he allowed himself, the one time that he was able to forget every wrong that had happened around him and just be one with nature.

This moment belonged to him. No one could take it away from him.

Howling loudly, he leaped over the river and ran further into the woods, not to be seen again until the early hours of the morning.

This was his one moment of solace, peace; the only time that he was ever able to forget, even momentarily.

It was also his penance.